Employers can no longer ask for your password

Today, Gov. Pat Quinn signed a new law that would make it illegal for employers to ask job candidates for passwords to social networking accounts. The bill was sponsored by State Representative La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) and Senate Minority Leader Christine Rodogno (R-Lemont). The new law will take effect January 1st.

This past Spring, students in my Computers & Society class at Bradley University brought up the topic of potential employers asking for their Facebook passwords as part of the screening process. I knew for a long time that employers were checking social networking sites as part of employee background checks–but that some were actually asking for Facebook passwords shocked me.

Many people create privacy profiles online that allow them to share private information with close friends and family–such as their struggle with a new medical diagnosis, the challenges of old age or the exploration of their religious beliefs. All of these areas would be taboo if they were the subject of questions at a job interview–so why would employers think it was O.K. to ask for a job applicant’s Facebook password?

Today, Gov. Pat Quinn signed a new law that would make it illegal for employers to ask job candidates for passwords to social networking accounts. The bill was sponsored by State Representative La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) and Senate Minority Leader Christine Rodogno (R-Lemont). The new law will take effect January 1st.

Potential employers can still see what you've made public on Facebook, so it's always a good idea to review and prune what's out there before you begin a job search. On Facebook, you can click on the "cogswheel" that represents settings to use the "View As…" feature. This will allow you to see what your profile looks like to the public, friends of friends, or any even any specific friend.

CHRISTOPHER GLENN is a Peoria-based technology futurist, inventor, author, lecturer and entrepreneur. He can be reached at christopher.j.glenn@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @NetThink.

Author: Christopher Glenn

Christopher Glenn has worked with companies around the world exploring how emerging technology impacts the way we work and live. As an adjunct professor in Computer Science at Bradley University, Christopher also helps tomorrow's leaders understand the influence technology will have on our future society. He can be reached at christopher.j.glenn@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @NetThink.
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